If You Were a Kid on the Oregon Trail (If You Were a Kid)

Great starter book for study unit on westward expansion for kids

Bought for grandkids and they loved it.

Read aloud for our reading series.

Super cute book! Will be using this with other resources for my 3rd grade and my 4th grade nephew... they are both doing Oregon units in school, and now with COVID19... we are all home. This book will help keep them engaged in their studies.

I am a tour guide who teaches young learners from Pre-K to High School about the Oregon Trail. I use this book in my display as a resource for classroom teachers to view and look through. This is a Great book for Pre-K to 1st grade, told through the eyes of children!

Great book for teachers who are teaching about the westward expansion.

It’s the middle of the 19th century, and Stephen and Josephine are accompanying their families on the Oregon Trail. During their 2000 mile trek, they see new landscapes and experience peaceful encounters with Native American tribes like the Ute. Josephine records these experiences in her journal—until the day she loses it! Then Stephen stumbles upon her book and decides to keep it, hoping that he will find the owner. Their journey by horse and wagon lasts six months. During this time, the children keep busy with daily chores. But there’s revelry as they near the end of the trail, and the settlers celebrate with music around a campfire. Josephine befriends Stephen and also gets her journal back! Upon reaching their destination, the children promise to keep in touch—Josephine’s family will stay in town while Stephen’s plans to claim farmland. Gregory uses accessible language to explain what life was like during this point in American history. Furthermore, the inclusion of historical snapshots effectively blends fact and fiction: Josephine’s journal keeping is typical since cameras are uncommon; the death of fellow travelers is sad but not surprising, because there aren’t doctors to treat illnesses like the flu. At the back of the book, a simple illustration of the Oregon Trail provides readers a visual reference of Stephen and Josephine’s journey. There is also a timeline, a glossary of 5 key terms, and an index. Recommended for its general overview of the subject; supplemented by Lluis Farre’s cartoonish illustrations.I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.